it does not sound like a sitar. I think it is one of the most widely slammed pedals of all time. I bought every one of the danelectro pedals along the way or got them as gifts.

I got the swami as a gift. I've heard you can get sitar sounds from it. I think the guys who are successful at it also have chemical intervention to aid in their perception.

it is a weird, octave, splatter, ring modulator thing... like a jet taking off with the bomb going off as it gains altitude. really you can only play one string at a time (maybe two) without just a freakout....

I like the pedal and won't ever sell it, but it is a very 'once in a while' type thing....

if you want a good sitar sound without buying a sitar, get an old variax. the sitar sounds in those are perfect.

__________________...in this life, you have either just tooted, about to toot or holding one in.

I dunno... maybe because a screaming tree doesn't sound like a tree screaming or a swollen pickle doesn't sound like a...

there were several people who thought you could buy a sitar AND a swami for 79.00 and were suprised when it wasn't. Lots of people have been upset that the 149.00 fender deluxe reverb pedal doesn't sound that much like a deluxe reverb if you are plugging it into a gorilla (animal or amp)

I will say that based on how it DOES sound, you might want to break out that bag anyway... it will trip a brotha out.

__________________...in this life, you have either just tooted, about to toot or holding one in.

i had one and very badly wanted to use it on SOMETHING... ANYTHING. i think, i did, in fact, use it on about 2 seconds of a solo in the studio before shipping it back to musician's friend. in my opinion, it was a big piece o' crap. the reverse delay (what i exchanged for) was a lot more useful in the not very useful at all category of pedals. at least that one you could sorta do a backwards sounding thing. the swami... i have no idea what the hell it was SUPPOSED to do. really sounded like a big mess. to each his own. peace.

Some years ago, I had a Dano/Silvertone sitting around that I wasn't playing much and took it to a luthier who made it into a 'sitar'. Basically, he replaced the slim wooden piece on the bridge with a big, flat block of ebony... that buzzed just like a 'sitar'. Cost all of $20 to do.

I used it for some recordings, then swapped the old piece back onto the bridge to sell it.

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"No, I can make any guitar sound lousy." -R. Nielsen

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